Improvement in electric-telegraph apparatus



'I *Sheefcs-Shee'c3.` l R. E. HOUSE.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Patented July 25,1876.

Q Ilia @MM/bg fwd, @y .N @L

N. PETERS, PHDTOMTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON4 D. C.

S-Sheets-Sheet 4.

R. E. HOUSE.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS. No. 180,089. Patented Ju1y'25,1876.

N; PETERS. PHOTO-LITHORPMER. WASHINGTON, D C.

A 5 Sheeis-Sheet.

R. E. HOUSE. n

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS. Y No.180,089. Patented July 25,1876.

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f7c4'/M' v Zhao/W l' 3v NLM /M N-PTERS. FHOTGLITHDGHPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

rrED S'raj'rEs PATENT .FFroEl ROYAL E. HOUsE, OE BINGEAMTON, NEW YORK.

'A-lMlRzOVEIVlENT IN ELECTRIC-TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Specication forming part of' Letters Pat-ent No. [80.089, dated July 25, 1876; application tiled Febuary 20, lsu.

- To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROYALE. HOUSE, of Binghamtoln'in the county of Broome and State of New York, have illvellted a new and useful Recording-instrument for Telegraph- Messages; and I' do hereby declare the fol# lowingl to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in whicll- Figure l, Sheet 1', is a front elevation of the instrument, with part of the frame rell'loved to show the interior mechanism under the keys. Fig. 2, Sheet2, is a top-plan View, witll parts of the frallle broken away to sllow the mechanism for feeding the fillet of paper and making the record. Fig. 3, Sheet is a lollgitud'inal section of the illstrumellt taken illr the plane ofthe lille A B, Fig. 2, the top being cut oft' tothe right and let't,'as .shown by dotted lines. Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a vert-ical longitudinal section ot' the guide-bed alld its support. l'g. 5, Sheet 3, is a sectional View' ofthe shaft, the friction-sleeve, alld other devices connected therewith, by which the eccentric shaft is operated from the prime mover oftlle instrument. Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is a perspectiveview ofthe message-rack. Fig. l7, Sheet il, is a detached view of the ratcllets alld pawls -employed to operate the message-rack; and

Fig. 8, Sheet 5, is. a plan view of the record or message fillet.

Similar letters of reference ill the accompanyillg drawings dellote the same parts.-

My ill"ention has for its object to produce va record ot' telegraph-messages ill a nari ot'nlessages to be recorded, preparatory to transmittal, ill such a manner that they may be. successively exposed tothe view of the Operator, and thenmoved to one side out ot' the way by the opera-tion ot' one ofthe fingerkeys of the recordilig-instrument.

vIt further consists ill the mechanism for vholding the messages, alld ill the means for' operating such mechanism from the lingerkey.

It further consists in the employment of a l pair of sllears, adapted for operatioll from one ot' the ingerkeys of the recording-ills'tl'ulnent fOr-cutting ott' the recorded messages( from the fillet of paper. i

It further consists in the mechanism for op- 'frequently occurs the shortest slit, land illcreasing the length of the slits`as the occurrence ofthe letters diminishes. The most' frequently-used sign ill ,telegrams is the separatrix or space between words. yThis Il make about olle-half lall illch ill length. The order in which the letters Otlthe alphabet most frequently occllr is. as follows, to wit: e t fi ao s r 'a lL l l c ufmp b fw y g v k .1r gj z. For these l make the slits increase ill length about onesixteenth ot' all inch for each one ill the above order. For example, the 'separatrix being one-halfan illcll long, the slit for the letter c is made l|ille-sixteenths of all illcll long; for the letter t ten-sixteenths, and so fon. The sign for Inis, or the elld of alnessage, should be One-sixteentlrot' ali illch lollger tllall the' sign for z, the last letter of the alphabet. lllese lengths and this order are not imperative, being llsed here principally to illustrate the invention.

A is tllc frame or case of the instrument, lnade ill any suitable form to receive the work- -illg parts, alld B is the main driving-shaft, arranged transversely ot' the frame, with its .bearings ill the bars G'H. l Z are'canls secured to the inner end ot' the main sha-ft, with their'sllonlders u poll opposite sides thereof, alld O is a rock-shaft, having its bearings in' the sides `of the frame, near the rear elld. is a sleeve, mounted loosely upon this shaft,

and provided with a slotted arm, N, which is Lzonneoted, by a. rod, M, to the outer cam ot' -he main shaft. Instead of making this connection directly with the cam, it may, it' found lesirable, be formed by a crank-arm on the' end ofthe main shaft.

The rock-shaft O is further provided with a zentral fixed collar, carrying arms T V at an ingle to each other. The arm T is formed rith a lateral lug, carrying a setserew, U, to )ear against a correspoiuling lug upon' the lrm N, while the arm V is connected with a 'ei-tical rack-beruf, by the pivoted rod fi', a-s hown in Fig. 3f S S are upright arms, tirmly ecured to the ends ot' the rock-shaft, and ointed at their upper ends to the arms a of transverse stop-bar, c", whose ends lie withn longitudinal grooves formed i n the side ieces ot' the case, nearthe upper edges. W s a spring' coiled about the rock-shaft, with ne end secured to one ofthe arms S,`andthe pposite' end to' a. collar, w, upon the sleeve o. he collar is adapted for adjustment upon the leeve by a set-screw, Y, or other suitable leans, to regulate the tension of the spring.

From the foregoing description itis evident hat when power is applied to rotate the main haft the stop-bar will be moved back and irth within the grooves ofthe ease, and that he rackharj" will be reciproca-ted vertically. .he extent ot' this reciprocation is regulated `y adjusting the end ot' the connecting-rod M ithin the slot of the arm N, while the path t' reciprocation is changed by adjusting the etscrew U to vregulate the distance between ,le arms T and N. The tension ofthe spring` i suiiicientlystrong tn oscillate the rock-shaft nd carry forward the stop-bar when the main hai't is rotated; but it' the forward movement t' the bar should be arrested before reaching s maximum throw, the tension ot' the spring 'ill be overcome, so that the main shaft shall amplete its rotation. u

E is a 'sleeve mounted upon the main shalt, rovided with a ily-wheel, D, "and a grooved nlley, C, to receive the driving-belt of the istrument.

Inasm uch as the power applied to the sleeve rust drive it continuously, and `inasmuch as is absolutely necessary that the mainshat't iall rotate intermittingly, the sleeve is adaptl to grasp and rotate the shaft by friction. or this purpose one halt` ot' the sleeve is held i the other halt' by set-`screws and springs c,

hich maybe adjusted to regulate the degree l' friction, and therefore the force with which iesleeve shall hold to the shaft. The sleeve lined with leather or other pliable material r the purpose ot equalizing the friction and eventing unequal wear. The force ot' the eeve must be suiiiciently great to overcome le tension ofthe coiled spring when the stopir is arrested in its forward movement, and' ithe same time slight enough to allow the eeve to` turn continuously when the shaft ases to move. Some connection of this kind required forthe successful operation ot' the strument, since` the intermittent rotation of the main shaft must be repeated manyl times` in a second.

The key-board ot the instrument is comcase, t'orm guides for the fingers of the operator, so that he can look up to read a message while manipulating the keys. Tile boards y" and z determine the stretch of the thumb and little linger, and so regulate the position ofthe intermediate fingers over the keys, while guiding the hands in their backward and forward movements. The front board 60 prevents the hands from going too i'ar forward over the keys, and therefore forms a t'ront g'uide at the upper bank.

rlhe keys are each pivoted upona central pin, bf",` affixed to a suitable cross'bar, A". Their inner ends extend beneath the path ot' the stop-bar c, and are properly weighted, so as to rest, when not in operation. upon a rear cross-bar, dm', as shown in Fig.

As the signs'n-'hich represent. the letters ot' the Valphabet and other message-symbols are formed by slits ot' diti'erent lengths in the fillet of paper, and since the slittlnginstruments` are operated by the rack-bar, in` a manner to be presently described, it follows, in this example otl my invention, that lthe throw ofthe rack-bar must be varied in proportion to the length oi' slits required. This is accomplished' by suitable stops upon the upper edges ot' the keys, to arrest the stop-bar at graduated dis-` tances in its forward movements.` The result may be attained in a variety ot' ways; but-in this instance I have shown the keys formed with shoulders upon their Lipper edges, at varying distances from their inner ends, such distances increasing i'rom right to left ot' the key-board, presenting the diagonal line shown in Fig. 2.

Since certain letters occur moreft'requently thanothers in telegraphic messages, which necessitates their representation' by short slits in the fillet ot' paper, I have transposed the alphabet, and placed the lette'rs in Usuch order upon the shoulders ot' the keys that the stopbar will move the shortest distance for the most-frequently occurringletter, the length of` its strokes being gradually increased in proportion to the increase inthe occurrence of the letters used.' By this means the recording mechanism may, through the medium ot" great` the stop and-rack bars, be operated with rapditywithin a given time. y

Theletters ot' designation are duplicated in the sa me order on the linger ends ot the keys `as shown in Fig. Z.,

hm is a lever, hung npona eross-shaft, 6, ofthe case beneath the bar A7, and forked -at its inner end, to embrace the cams l Z on the "main shaft, one arm, `0"", of the torkbearing against the shoulder b" of the cam I, andthey ldrive the friction sleeve and vflywheel of the instrument continuously; but the rest of the mechanism is motionless until theoperator presses a key down upon the' cross-bar KW. This movement lifts the inner end of the detent-lever and releases the cam I, so thatthe .friction-sleeve shall revolve the main shaft,

and, through the intermediate devices, throw forward the stop-bar until it is arrested by the shoulder of the depressed key. The rack-bar, by this operation, is carried down in propel'- tion to the distance traveled by the stophar, starting always from the same point-that is to say, it always starts downward from the same point, but descends differentially in proportion to the throw ofthe stop-bar.

These various parts constitute the mechanism for operating the recording devices, which I will now proceed to describe, in connection with their method of operation.

M is a horizontal bed for guiding` the fillet of paper upon which the message is recorded, and n is a sleeve, secured to its under side so as to fit upon an upright spindle, l, affixed to the frame in rear of the key-board. The guide-bed is arranged transversely ofthe case, and may be pivoted to the top of the spindle by a screw-pin, b5, as shown in Fig. 4f.

A1 A1 are nprights of t. e frame placed in line with the guide-bed, to receive the feeding mechanism, by which the fillet of paper is drawn through the instrument. pm is a spring connecting an arm, o, of the sleeve at, with an adjusting-pin, g", at the base of the outer upright, for the purpose ot' holding the guide-bed11 position with a yielding coilnection. r is astop attached to the case within the path of the arm o, and adapted for adjustment to regulate the lateral swing of the guide-bed. By this method of mounting and connecting the guidebed, it is automatically' adjusted with delicacy and precision to compensate for any irregularities in the running ofthe paper, and to insure accuracy in its presenta-tion to the recording-blades and feeding-cylinder.

0' is an arm projecting to the rear of the guide-bed sleeve n, andl'rrovided with a lateral pin, rf, upon which the paper-reel q' is hung. q is the paper wound upon the reel beside a flange or rim, p, formed upon the latter, and thence passing upward on its way to the guide-bed through a guide loop, c, formed upon the upper endv of a lever, t.

The inner end of the paper is securedt-o the reel iu any convenient mannerI to prevent it from slipping. I

The lever carries a frictioirbrake, S, and is hung to the side of the arm 0', so that, under the force of a spring, fw, it shallpress the guide-loop away fromthe bed, and the brake down upon theflange of the reel.

i/Vhen the instrument is in operation, the feedingl devices pull the paper over the feedbed with slight but rapid jerks, which carry the'guide-loop o toward the guide-bed and lift thc friction brake from the reel, so that the latter may turn and release the paper.

When the paper ceases to move, the spring throws out the upper end of the lever t, unwinding the paper from the reel until the friction-brake comes down against the ange thereof and arrests its further rotation.

To increase the quantity of'paper pulled off the reel in proportion to the increase in the length of the -message-slits, it is passed over an intermediate guide, x, affixed to the end of the guide-bed, before passing over the guide '0'. Afterleaving the reel-guides the paper rest-s upon the bottom ofthe guide-bed, and is held against the adjustable outer or gage side S thereof by means of shoulders formed upon arms w" x, which are connected by a longitudinalbar, y, and slide within deep transverse grooves in the bottom of the bed, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shoulders are held against the fillet of n ing width, byone or more springs, c, arranged to bear against the outer side of the bar y. The pressure ofthe springs is adjusted by set-screws c' passing through the inner side rail of the bed, or arranged in any other convenient manner.

A pin, m, fixed to the bottom ofthe guidepaper, so thatl they shall conform to its vary bed, limits the advance of the yielding shoull ders when the fillet of paper has passedout of the machine.

t is a cover or presser-bar, hinged to the` outer-.edge ofthe guide-bed, so as to hold down the fillet of paper, the amount of pressure or y friction being regulated` by the set-screw u,

Fig. 1, upon which the free edge ofthe cover `by a spring, if preferred, but its own Weight will in most cases, probably, be found sufficient for all purposes. Its outer edge'istormed vwith suitable recesses or spacesj, k, and to prevent the outer edge of the paper from folding up as it passes over the guidebed and along theguide side S. l is a handle affixed to the cover, for opening and closing it in applying or removing the paper.

Theends of the transverse guide-arms w" fr extend through the gage side S of the bed, in line with the hinges of the cover, so that, when the latter is thrown open for the insertion of a tillet of paper, the upper leaves of the'hinges shall bea-r against the ends of -t IS0,0S9

the arms, and force baci; the guide-blocks, rlhe opening of thel cover, therefore, prepares the bed for the application of the paper. r2 areslotted guide-blocks, lattached to the inner end ofthe guide-bed, so that their upper surfaces shall lie flush with the top of the bed. They are each formed with a slotted arm, fr, extending under the hed, for the passage of holding-screws, by which the blocks are independently adjusted with respect to the bed and its gage side, to regulate the distance apart-of the slitting-blades and the position of the slits in relation to the edges ofthe paper. Inst-cad of making the blocks in separate pieces and attaching them to the bed, the'y may be made directly upon the end of the latter, if preferred.

f3 are corresponding slotted guide-blocks, attached to the'cover of the guide-bed by setscrews m3, so th'at their slots shall register with those in the blocks r2. Each of the blocks f3 carries a-n embossing roller o r style, 713, within its slot, to bear down, under the weight of the cover, upon the fillet of paper in its passage over the bed, and by pressing it into the grooves of the lower blocks, to form two parallel tracks or creases;

The edges of the grooves in the lower blocks may be beveled or eut out in anymanncr to render the tracks in the paper distinct, or to give them-any desired peculiarity or characteristic in design.

` The creases are intended to receive the trackhand of the transmitting-instrument, while certain electric changes are effected, as described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States flied contemporaneous] y herewith. Set-screws a3, passing through the blocks f3, serve to adjust the pressure of the styles upon the `fillet of paper.

l2 Z2 are recesses in the under side of the blocksf, to receive -a strip of leather, rubber, or other soft material, for the purpose of form-l ing yielding anvils for the points of the slitting-blades, which anvilsare adjusted by setacrews m4, as shown in Fig. 4. e 12 is a horizontal shaft, having its bearings in parallel arms c5, projecting from the guidehed sleeve toward the uprights A1. It carries a pinion, 10, and two vertical eccentric bars, u2, the upper ends ot' which latter pass upward through the slots of the blocks r2, heing guided by the slots and pins S2, as shown in Fig. 4.

N3 are pointed reversible knives attached to the front of the eccentric bars by the slotted bosses ci and set-screws d2, so,that the point ofeach shall enter the grooves in the guide-blocks r2.

a and b' are radial pins or detents at'-V 'liiv'ed to the shaft of the eccentric bars, to engage with teeth c2 d2 upon the arms of a forked lever, h2, and form an escapement.

The lever 11,2 is mounted upon a shaft, am', in rear of the eccentric shaft, and its lower arm g2 extends forward within the path of a suitable bearings of the case, so that the gearwheel shall engage with the pinion um' on the eccentric shaft. r is a drum fastened to a long tubular bearing, r6, on the shaft 0", and containing a coiled spring, T7, one end of which is secured to the gear-wheel, andthe other end to the interior of the drum. 3 is a friction-sleeve mounted upon the tubular bearing. and constructed and applied thereto in the same manner as the sleeve of the main driving-shaft. ,The outer end of the sleeve carriesl a grooved pulley, 15, Awhich is driven by a suitable arrangement of belts from the prime mover of the instrument, to rotate the gear-wheel intermittingly,in a manner similar to that in which the main driving-shaft is rotated by its sleeve, as already described.

`Vi/'hen the instrument is operated as hereinbefore described, the fillet of paper is drawn over the guide-bed by suitable feeding mechanism,operated by the rack-bar from the keys of the instrument. 'lhe bar is arranged in suitable guides of the case, and, when a key is depressed, it commences to descend. `This movement releases the arm g2 of the escapement-lever from the pin m2 on the bar, and permits the spring 'i2 to draw up the arm 11,2 and disengage the tooth d2 fromthe dctent b. The shaft 72" is thus released, so .that it may make half a revolution, or rather so that it may revolve until the same ldetent b is arrested by the'tooth c2 onthe upper arm of thelever. When the rack-ba' again moves up it lifts the arm g2 of the escapement-lever, throwing the lower tooth cl2 upward to catch the lower detent, and clearing the upper tooth c2 from the upper detent, so that the eccentric shaft may be again moved when the rack-bar makes its next descent. One complete vibration of the forked lever, therefore, alternately clears a detent from one tooth and allows the shaft to make a half-revolution. The detent or eccentric shaft is driven from the shaft 0,

- through the mediunrof the gearing am 10,

and, as the rack-bar descends, throws up one of the eccentric hars, so that the point of 1ts knife shall enter the fillet of paper, and there remain until a slit is cut equal in length to the distance the paper moves. rlhe length of the slit indicates a particular letter or symbol of amessage, and such length is controlled by the forward throw of the stop-bar and the consequentdescent of the rack-bar, as previously explained. The greater the throwof the stopbar the lower the rack-bar will de- .scend, and the lower this` bar descends the `longer the blade will remain in the paper, and

therefore the longer will be the slit cut therein. The eccentric bars are so arranged that the two blades are alternately thrown up to puncture the paperin parallel lines, thus making a record which must be read from one line to the other alternately.

The feeding devices are constructed and operated as follows: j is a horizontal shaft, having its bearings in the uprights A1. K is a cylinder mounted upon the shaft in line with the recording devices, and provided with several rows of sharp teeth, which take hold of and feed the paper when the cylinder is rotated. It is also formed with peripheral grooves in line with the grooves of the guideblocks r2, to receive the embossed creases in the llet of paper, and prevent them from being llattened out or otherwise injured. L is a pressure-roller mounted upon"an arm,f, pivoted to one of the uprights, A1, so as to place the roller in front of the cylinder. The pressure-roller, under the force of an adjustable spring, h, holds the fillet of papel' against the teeth of the cylinder, so as to insure the proper feed.

The surface of the roller should be made of, or provided with, leather, or some suitable yielding substance, to receivethe impress of the cylinder-teeth, and prevent the paper from slipping.

o and p are ratchet-wheels, mounted upon the shaftj, with their teeth pointing in opposite directions. jisasmall gear-wheel, mounted loosely upon the shaft] between the ratchet-wheels, so as to engage with the teeth of the rack bar.

When in the operation of the instrument the rack-bar is moved upward, a spring-pawl,

un', pivoted to an arm, l', of the gear-wheel,-

ratchet-wheel o', to prevent any backward movement ofthe feed-cylinder when the pawl on ceases to act. z is an angular lever, pivoted at its ang-le to one of the uprights immediatelyunder the wheel p', and having teeth formed upon its upper arm, which, when the rack-bar is thrown up, engages with the teeth of the wheel p', and locks it against farther movement. This locking Inechanism, which is thrown into operation at the termination of each upward movement of the rack-bar, prevents t-he feed-cylinder from being-carried too far by its momentum after the rapid throw of the pawl m. The angular or locking lever is operated by an adjustable stop, fw', on the side ot the rack-bar, which strikes against thefree end of a spring, z", lying along the under side of the upper lever-arm, as shown in Fig. l. The spring insures the-action ofthe lockinglever, and is limited in its downward movement by a stop, y', formed at the angle ot' the lever. A recess, m', in the edge ofthe rack-bar, receives the lower end of the locking-lever, to permit its necessary7 movements in locking and unlocking thei'feed-cylinder.

It will thus kbe observed that the movements of the rack-bar govern the movements of the paper, and therefore the length of the slits therein 5 while the movements of the rack-bar are governed by the operation of the keys, as hereinbefore described.

There is an equal number of teeth on the ratchet-wheels op, but the number in each must be greater than the number of characters to be made, for the following reasons: Assuming that there are twentyeight keys to the instrument, that the separatrix must be eight-sixteenths orone-halfofan inch in length, and that the letters or characters following increase the slits in the paper olie-sixteenth ot an inch each, then there mustvbe thirty-six teeth inthe ratchet-wheel, one-sixteenth of an inch apart, because the moving pawl, starting always from the same point, must, as the rack-bar descends, ride back upon the ratchet-wheel to enga-ge the eighth tooth,and, when the rack-bar'ascends, move forward the wheel until the pawl again reaches the point from which it started.` Now, to make the next letter-say, E--the pawl travels back ,to the ninth tooth; to make T, it moves back to the tenth tooth and to form the longest character, or the one least used, it must travel back thirty-six teeth. This latter movement, however, would require a complete circuit of the ratchet-wheel by the moving pawl, which could not well be vdone Without interfering with the locking-pawl. I therefore add a few teeth to the. ratchet-wheel, to engage the locking-pawl between the point from which the moving pawl starts and the point reached by its longest throw.

It may be here observed that though the ratchet-wheel and cylinder might operate if both were made of the same diameter, yet a practical difficultyintervenesbecause the best size for the cylinder is such that the teeth of the wheel vwould be too ne to insure the action ofthe driving-pawl in its rapid movements. It therefore becomes necessary to make the ratchet-wheel greater' in diameter than the cylinder.

The shoulders upon the keys of the instrument govern the movement of the rack-bar, and must, therefore, be arranged in proper relation to each other and to the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. The distance traversed by the stop bar in moving down the rack-bar to form the separatrix, represents the distance traversed by the moving pawl upon the ratchetwheel, which, as above stated, is the distance of eight teeth. To make the next character, the stop-bar travels along the adjoining key the same distance and crie-eighth more, its throws increasing in this proportion through the whole number of keys. Therefore, the shoulders of the keys are separated from each other one-eighth of the distance the stopbar travels to reach the shoulderl of the first or separatrix key.

I have only used the proportions aud distances above named toillustrate the principle of operation, as it is evident that they, as well he sent much time is consumed by the opera.-l

tor in placing them in position to be read and recorded. To avoid this unnecessary delay l propose to mount the message in a rack connected through suitable mechanism with an operating-key, by whose movements the messages are successively exposed to view, and then moved to one side out ot' the way.

Referring to the fourth sheet ot' drawings, a

, is an inclined table, supported upon the case ot' the instrument over the keys, and provided at its upper and lower edges with grooves to receive the parallel bars a7 and b4. These bars slide freely within their grooves, and are connected together at their rear ends by a' strip ct' wood or metal, 11"", which is adapted for ready removal when necessary.

The bar b4 is formed with a rack along its under side to engage with a pinion, bf", mounted upon a short shaft, b?. This shaft also carries the reversed ratchet-wheels b9 and c4, and has its bearings in an upright, el", of the case A, and in the end of a hand-lever,1;,pivoted to thelower edge of the table. The pivotal point ot' the lever is removed a short distance from the shaft If, and the inner end ot' the latter lits loosely7 within its bearings el", lso that, when the outer end of the lever is raised or lowered, the shaft maybe moved to engage or disengage the pinion and rack-bar.

4 One of the keys in the key-board of the instru ment-preferably, the left-hand one in the middle tieris formed with abent. arm extending upward in rear of the fulcrulnpin c, which arm carries a fixed pawl, c, and a spring-pawl, c5, to engage the reversed ratchtet-wheels c4 and b9, respectively.

a4 a4 represent a series of sprin gn gers, secured one behind the other, to pins a5, projecting from the upper edge of the sliding bar a7 in the plane of the table. These tingers are folded over upon each other, as shown in Figli, and the upper edges of the messages are inserted between the springs, the main portions lying upon the table. The messages, therefore, rest upon each other like the leaves ot' a book, the upper one only being exposed to view so as to be read.

When it is desired to move a message out of the operators view, in order to expose the message next behind it, the key is depressed so that its inner end shall lift the spring-pawl and rotate the ratchet-wheels one tooth. This movement, ofcourse, rotates the shaft and its pinion, and moves the rack-bar b4, together with the bar ai, toward the left ofthe instrument, until `a point,c6, on the lower end of a spring-linger, is brought in contact with a fi is a curved lug, a, projecting from the upper-edge ot the table, to turn the linger over, as shown in hig. 6. The message held by this finger is, therefore, turned over, and exposes to view the message held by the tinger next behind'it.

As the message is turned, the lixed pawl c6 engages the other ratchet-wheel, and locks the series of lingers against further movement until the key is again depressed. When the message has been turned over and the key released, the weight ofthe latter restores it to` its normal position ready for the next movement.

The ratchet-teeth should be made of such size that when the spring-paw] moves the ratchet-wheels one tooth, the bar aF will be carried to the lett the distance between two )ins ai* the latter beine' arranged at e ual distances apa-rt.

The bar a7 is designed to hold from twentytive to thirty' messages, and, when all have been recorded, the outer end ot' the hand-lever b is raised, the strip 1115 disconnected from the bar ai, and the latter removed for the inser-` tion of another' carrying a fresh lot of messages.

For the purpose ot' cutting off the fillet ofpaper at'tertherecord has been made, I arrange a pair of shears or cutters in rear ot' the feed mechanism, andoperate them by one of the.

keys of the instrument, in the following manner Employing, preferably, that key which is arranged in the upper tier, immediately over the key for turning the messages, the inner end ot' the key selected extends upward through the case`in rear of the fnlcrum-pin c,

and is slotted to receive the arm g, ot' an angul-aiI lever pivotcd at g5 to ,one ot' the uprights A1. The upper arm of this lever is pivoted to the outer end otl a horizontal cuttingblade, gli; which is arranged between the uprights ofthe case, and pivoted at its inner end` to a projection, gT, of the rear upright. This cutting-blade works over the edge of a second horizontal blade, g8, atlixed to one ofthe uprights so as to project immediately under'a loop, g9, l'ormed upon the upper end of the curved guide i. The fillet ol' paper, guided by the loop, passes down between the blades and is cut oli' by del'lressing the operating-key so as to throw the swinging blade against the tixed blade, the two operating with a shearing cut.

A spring', g1", coiled about the upper arm of the' crank-lever, and connecting with the4 pivoted blade, forces the latter downupon the tixed blade to insure the .cutting operation. When the key is released, the weight of its inner end restores it. to its rst position, and swings the pivoted cutting-blade outward, so that the fillet ot' paper may continue its downward passage. l

The lixed blade is placed against a shoulder formed in the curved guide, or is otherwise connected to the latter, in such a manner that its cutting-edge shall lie in or behind the plane of the guide. Some arrangement of this kind,

in connection with the guide-loop [/9, is absolutely neuss-ary to properly guide the tillet of paper after the cut is made; otherwise the end of the main fillet would y out ofthe guide, and have to be replaced between the .blades by hand before a second cut could be made. InsteadV ot' arranging the pivoted bladc--to swing over the I xed blade, it may be arranged to passunderit, the spring being also changed to press the'swinging blade upward instead of downward.

The paper fillets are prepared for use by treating them with an extra sizing of glue, in order to prevent them from being ltorn by the knives during the slitting operations.

The drawings herein illustrate one form o f my invention; but I desire it understood that 'l do not confine myself to such form so"long as I do not depart from the principle ot' my invention.

`Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- Y l. The record of a ,telegx'aphinessage, cou'- Sjsting of a narrow fillet ot'-pape1, in which are cut two/parallel.rows ot' slits, arranged to be 'read alternatelyl from one row to the other,

and indicating bytheir length -the letters of the alphabet and other messagcsymbols, substantially as described.

2. The record prepared fortransmittal, having two parallel tracks or' grooves formed in the line of the message-slits, substantiallyy asl described. .f

3. A series of graduated finger-keys, whose depression causes a lillet of paper to be moved intermittingly over two knives, which are alternately projected through Vit tov .form the record-slits, substantially as described.

,4. 'A motor independent of the finger-keys, for moving 'the paper and reciprocating` the; knives` when the keys are operated, substantially as described.

5. Controlling the slits in the paper bv means of'stops on the linger keys, sothat cach slit shall indicatel alctler or other symbol eorrespomling to that of the key which is operated to produce it, substantially as dcscribed.

b. Controlling the distance between the beginning ot' one slit in the fillet ofpaper and the beginning of the next slit in the adjoining' row, by means of stops on the finger-keys, substantially as described.

7. Controlling the operation of the slittingknives, by means of an escapement adapted to be set in motion vthrough the movements of the finger-keys, for the purpose specified. S'. The combinationoftwoalternately-reciprocating' slitting-knives, adapted to puncture' a strip of paper in two parallel rows, for the purpose ofrecording teleg apli-messages, substantially as described.`

9. The slitting-knives, whose'operation's are controlled from the finger-keys through the medium of the reciprocating rack-bar and slidingstop-bar, substantially as described.

l0. The feeding mechanism, operated from the finger-keys through the medium of a reciprocating rackbar, substantially as described.

l1. The combinationof a differential rackbar and a sliding stop-bar with the graduated finger-keys toroperatiu'g the feeding and recording mechanism, substantiallyas described.

12. 'The rack-bar and sliding stop-bar, having each a differential throw, to govern the feed ot' the paper and the movement of the I slittinggknives, substantially as described.l

13. The combination of the rack-bar with the graduated linger-keys, substantiallyas described, for the purpose specified.

A 14:. The. combination ot' the feeding mech'- anism and recording mechanism to operatein unison for producing th'e record` substantially as described. 4

. 15. Theescapement off-the. slitting-knives combined with the differential rack-bar, subrotation of the driving-shaft if the stop-bar is arrested bythe finger-keys before reaching its maximum throw, substantially as described.

18. The combination ol'- the shaft B and friction-sleeve E, to which power is applied for driving the main shaft, substantially as described, for the purpose specied.

19. The driving-sleeve E, adapted to grasp the main shaft B with sufficient frictional force to overcome the spring-connection between the shaft andstop-bar when the latter -is arrested in its forward movement, and to continue its rotation when the main shaft ceases to move, substantiallyas described.

20. The friction-sleeve, adapted .for adjustment tc grasp the main shaftwith greater or less force, substantially as described, for'the` purpose specified.

2l. The combination of the sliding stop-bar -with the graduated finger-keys and detent-lever, substz'tntially as described, for the purpose specified.

22. The stopbar, having its throw adjustable, substantially as described, for the purpose speciled.

23. The coiled springWupon therock-shaft,

combined with the loose sleeve Q and one ot' the arms of the sliding stop-bar, substantially as described, for the purpose specilied.

24. The coiled spring W, adapted for ad- -justmentto regulate ,its tension by means of thecollar x, upon the sleeve 0.', substantially as described. Y

25. The combination of the forked detentstantially as described, 4for the purpose specitied.'

28. The rack-bar f, connected to the rock- 4shaft U by means of tlie arm V, and pivoted rod t', substantially as'described.

29. rlhe arm N, connected to the driving'- shaft, combined with tliearin V, 'connected to tlie'rack-b.ir, for the purpose ot' moving the latter.downward in proportion to the throw of tlic stop-bai', substantially as described.

3l). rlhe combination of the arm 'l with the arm N and its connections to move upv the rack-bar, substantially as described.

31. The connecting-md M, adapted for adjustment within the arm N, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

32. The arms T N, adapted for adjustment to and from each other, substantially asdescribed, for the purpose speciiied.

33. The rack-bar, having its throw adjustable, substantially as described, for the pui'- pose specified.

34. The combination ot' theslidiiig stop-bar and the` reciprocatingrack-har with the rock-` shat't, the main drivingsliat't, and the frictionsleeve, substantially as described. y

35.` The combination of the graduated finger-keys, the detent-lever 15", .the stopbar, the rack-bar, and the rock-shaft O, with the main driving-shaft, and its friction-sleeve, substantially' as described, for the purposes specied.

36. The arrangement of the alphabet and other message-symbols upon the graduated stops of the finger-keys, so that the stop-bar and rack-bar will move the shortest distance for the most frequently-occurriiig letter, the length of their strokes beiiig gradually "and `uniformly increased inproportioii to the decrease in the occurrence of the letters used, substantially as described, for the purpose specilied.

37. The key-boardof the instrument, com- .posed of three banks of keys, divided into a right and left hand section, substantially as described.

38. The guide-boards, combined with the keys, for guiding the fingers of the operator,

order upon their finger-ends, substantially. as

` described.

4substantially as described, for the purpose specitied.

43. The connecting-spring 1),adaptcd for Aadjustment by means of the `pin q", siibstaiitially as described, for the pii-rposc speciliedu.

44. The adjustable stop W', eoinbined \vith the case'of tlieinstrument, and arranged withiu the path` of the sleeve-arm o, to regulate tlie lateral swing of the guide-bed,substan-` tially as described.

45. The paper-reel, combined with the guidebed, for the purpose of conforming to its movements in presenting the paper to the feeding devices, substantially as described.

H LTlie' paper-reel and feeding mechanism, arranged to deliver the paper upon the guidebed over the slitting-knives in` proportion to the length of the message-slits i'equircd,`sub stantially as described.

4 7. The combination ofthe spring-lever t, and friction-brake 5', with the paper-reel and guide-bed, 'substantially as described for the purpose. specilied. i` 48. The intermedia-teguidew, combined with the guidebed, and the guide-loop vf", substantially as describcd,for the purpose specilied.

49. `The guide-bed, constructed with the ad# justable gage side S,. tlie adjustable springpressure bar, vand the transverse arms w""a;,

substantially as described, for the purposes specied.

50. 'llieliinged cover of the guide-bed, ar-

ranged to throw back the guide-arms w 41:,

the recesses j c" i, to prevent the outer edge of the 4paper from folding upas it passes over the guide-bed, substantially as described. 52. 'lheslotted guide-blocks r2, combined with the guide-bed, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

`5:3.,'lhe slotted guide-blocks f3, combined with the cover of the guide-bed, and adapted for adj ustme'iit with respectto the guide-blocks r2, substantially as described, for the purpose specified. 54. The combination of the embossing-rollers or styles i, with the slotted guide-blocks f3, t0 forni parallel grooves in the fillet of paper by pressing itdowii under the weight ofthe coveil within the grooves ot' the guideblocks r2, substantially as described.

y 55. The yielding anvils, combined with the blocks f3, substantially' as described, tor the purpose specified.

56. The slitting-knives combined with the guide-bed and the guide-blocks rzf, substantially as described.

57. The slitting-knives supported by the eecentric bars from the escapement-shaft 11, substantially as described.

58. The slitting-knives adapted for reversal and adjustment upon the eccentric bars, substantiall y as described.

59. The eccentric bars guided within the blocks r2 by means of the slots and pins s?, Substantially as described.

60. The escapement consisting of the shaft 11, to which the power is applied, the detentpins am b, and the forked lever h2, operatedY by the rack-bar, substantially as de scribed.

6l. The forked lever of the escapement having its inner end held upward to engage the upper tooth c2 with the uppermost detent-pin, by means of the adjustable spring t2, substantiall y as described.

62. The stop l2, attached to the sleeve of the guide-bed, and combined with the forked escapement-lever, to limit its upward throw, substantially as described.

63. The forked lever ofthe escapement having its-lower arm extended within the path of a stop on the rack-bar, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

64. The' arrangement ot' the escapement to throw up a knife at each reciprocation of the rack-bar, substantially as described., for the purpose specified.

(i5. rlhe eccentric 0r escapenient shat't driven from the shaft 0, through the medium ofthe gearing' am 10, substantially as described.

66. The combination of a driving frictioncollar with the driving-shaft 0" of the escapement, substantially as described, for the purpose specilied.

(37. The combination, with the shaft 0, of the friction-collar 3, the loose sleeve, the drum W, the coiled spring, and the gearwheel 2W, substantially as described, for the purpose specified. t

' 68. The toothed feed-cylinder constructed 'with parallel grooves, and arranged in line with the recording devices, substantially as described, for the purpose specified. I 69. Thecombination ofthe ratchet wheel o',

the loose pinion, and moving pawl with the rack-bar and feed-cylinder, for the purpose of rotating the latter when the rack-bar is moved up, substantially as described.

70. The combination of-the swing-paw] o' with the ratchet-wheel o, to prevent backl ward movementofthefeed-cylinder when the f 72. The combination of the ratchet-wheel pl 75. The combination of the curved guide t with the uprights ot' the t'rame, to guide the paper out of the instrument, substantially as described.

76. A rack-bar holding a series of telegraphmessages, connected by suitable mechanism with one of the finger-keys ot' the recordinginstrument, so that the operation of such key'T shall successively expose the messages to View and then move them to one ,side out of the way, substantially as described.

77. rlhe combination ofthe inclined mes' sage-rack with the case of the recording-instrument, substantially as described. 78. The combination of the sliding bars a7 b4 with the inclined bed a9, such bars beingunited by a removable connection, substantially as described.

79. The sliding bar b4, constructedwith teeth, to receive the action of the pinion ba,

for feeding forward the messages, substantially as described.

.80. rIhe pivoted hand-lever b5, forming one ot the bearings of the pinion-shaft 127, for thel purpose ot' connecting and disconnecting the pinion and rack-bur b4, substantially as described.

Sl. The reversed ratchet-wheels on.- the pinion-shaft b, in combination with the pawls upon the bent arm of the finger-key, for r0- tating the feeding-pinion, substantially as dcscribed.

82.' The message-holding iingers at, pivoted to the upper edge of the sliding bar a7, so as to hold the mess-ages folded upon each other and resting -on the inclined table, substantially as described.

S3. The message-holding fingers a4, pro-v vided each with a point, a6, which, when the message-bar is fed along the table strikes against a stop, (L15, and turns the tinger over so as to move the uppermost message out ot' -the way and expose the one next under it to theview of the operator, substantially as described. l

S4. The message-fingers adapted for operation from a linger-key by suitableintervening mechanism, substantially as described.

85. The sliding message-bar a?, adapted for removal from the inclined table, substantially `as described, for the purpose speciiied.

S6. The combination of a pair ot'shears with the recording mechanism, for cutting off the recorded messages from the lillet of pa-per, substantially as described.

S7. The shears, adapted l'or operation from I 1o e nemesi one ofthe finger keys of the recording-instrunient, substantiully as described.

.88. The fixed blade g8 of the shears, nrrnng'ed under the loop g of the curved paperguide, so' that its cutting-edge shall le in or behind the plane ot' the. guide, substantially as described, for the purpose. specified.

89. The pivoted cutting-bhule g, pivoted to one of the uprights ot' the frame, so as to swing; over the fixed blade g8, substantially as described. l l

90. The combination of the pivoted crank` lever with the pvoted sheurblnde and the up turned end of' the operating fngenkey, substantially as described, for the purposespecified. 91. The combination ofthe coiled spring (110 With the pivoted shear-blade and the cranklever, to hold such blade down upon the. xed blade, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

ROYAL E. HOUSE. Witnesses:` J. W. KEITH,

JON. F. BARRETT. 

